Multiple sclerosis is a disease that can cause a variety of disabilities, ranging from trouble moving to impaired vision, speech, ataxia and balance difficulties. For this reason, the immediate environment of a person with MS should be adapted so that they can function independently to the best of their ability.
Adaptation of a flat or a workplace for a disabled person is usually associated with huge costs. In fact, equipment that facilitates everyday life can be expensive, and reimbursement from PFRON or PCPR is sometimes difficult to obtain. However, some changes do not require great investment.
Bathroom
In the home, the most critical points are: the bathroom and the kitchen. At the same time, the rooms should be slightly different for people in wheelchairs and those who use crutches. In both cases, handrails will be needed in the bathroom. But this is not the end. Of course, we all like to use the bathtub, but for people who have problems with moving around, it is not the best solution. After staying in warm water, the strength decreases and it is difficult to get out of the bath on your own. Showers with a seat – a shower chair and an anti-slip mat are much better. If it is not possible to remodel the bathroom so that a shower can fit in, you should buy a board – a seat for a bathtub. A suitable board should: have a stable fixation so that a person with MS feels safe, have a seat at the height of the bathtub railing (after a bath it is difficult to get up and transfer to a wheelchair if the seat is lower), have a handrail on the side, be easy to wash . It is also good to put a stool next to the bathtub, on which you can change or slide off the bathtub seat after bathing.
An important point in the bathroom is the toilet seat. In the case of people in a wheelchair, it is good that it is at the same height as the wheelchair, then it is easier to change over. Installing a wall-hung toilet is not always possible, so it is good to think about the toilet seat. Various models are available for sale, with armrests and the possibility of adjusting the height of the seat. It is important that the height of the seat is similar to the height of the wheelchair. The armrest may not be a secure enough grip, so remember about the handrails on both sides.
People with MS often have problems with urinary incontinence. In such cases, it is important to maintain hygiene, not to allow the development of infection. Installing a bidet in a small bathroom or toilet can be difficult, but – instead, you can mount a bidetta on the wall next to the toilet, a faucet that will also allow you to wash yourself if necessary.
The washbasin for people on a wheelchair should be installed so that the patient can ride under it, not too high, because it will make washing difficult. It is good when it is wide and flat enough that you can rest your hands on it. It is better to abandon the traditional knobs in the battery, they can turn out to be quite difficult to use for people with less disabled hands, in favor of the lever. It does not require too many hand operations and allows you to quickly set the optimal water temperature. The mirror is mounted either slightly inclined, or – on a movable arm, which will allow it to be maneuvered freely.
Bedroom
It’s time to go to the bedroom for a moment. The bed is the main piece of furniture and the main problem. Usually it is too low, too soft, which makes it difficult to get up, get on and turn over. Buying the right bed can be both costly and difficult. It is easier to raise them, e.g. on boards of appropriate thickness, and use a rope ladder to assist with lifting. It is worth replacing the mattress with a harder one, it can also be beneficial for the spine.
Since the bed is a place where a person with MS spends a lot of time when they feel worse, there should also be an easily accessible cupboard or shelf right next to it, on which to put useful small items: medicines, hand cream, wet and dry wipes, water mineral or juice, biscuits or fruit. There should also be a small trash can next to the bed and an extension cord that allows you to connect, for example, a laptop. A portable folding table for a laptop is useful, on which you can also put a read book. If a person with MS works at home, a place for the necessary small items should also be arranged at the workplace. Then the patient will not lose energy to get up, for example, to the kitchen for mineral water or medicines.
Kitchen
The kitchen is a difficult place to arrange. Its organization depends on whether the person is in a wheelchair (using the space under the table top) or on crutches (inaccessibility of the lower shelves, it is necessary to use the space above the table top). In any case, however, a few basic rules should be followed. The basic products and items used by a person with MS should be located in such a way that they have direct access to them, and can prepare a meal on their own. In the case of cabinets under the counter, drawers with a self-closing mechanism work best, it is easy to remove everything from them, you do not have to bend down. Cutlery and dishes should be bought in a contrasting color. People with MS often have vision problems and can knock and break a glass they don’t notice. A microwave oven is useful, it allows you to safely reheat the dish. People who have ataxia can easily drink any liquid, including soup, using a straw. Slicing and peeling are sometimes quite difficult activities for less efficient hands, so you can invest in cutlery with special handles, and buy some products already cut, e.g. bread. At the sink, a battery with a retractable head is useful, of course a lever. This way, it is easier to pour water into the kettle, pot, you do not need to remove heavy filled dishes from the sink, you just need to move them, for example, to the stove.
It is impossible to list all possible home improvement ideas. That is why it is sometimes worth browsing websites and stores with products for the elderly. There you can buy items that will make it easier to perform some everyday activities, such as key holders, devices for fastening buttons or dressing socks, medicine boxes with electronic reminders, rotating mats for armchairs … Some of them are not very expensive and they will certainly prove to be come in handy on a daily basis.
Text: Iza Czarnecka